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(No Model 2 sheetsheet 1.

, J. S. HUGHES.. TROLLEY WIRE SUPPORT FOR ELEGTRIG RAILWAYS.

No. 445,142. Patented Jan. 20,1891.

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(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

J. S. HUGHES. TROLLEY WIRE .SUPPORT EOE ELECTRIC EAILWAYS.

No. 445,142. Patented Jan. 20, 1891.

WITNEssEs:

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES S. HUGHES, OF ST. PAUL, MIFNESOTA, ASSIGOR TO DANA M. HUGHES, OF SAME PLACE.

TROLLEY-WlRE SUPPORT FOR ELECTRIC RAILWAYS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 445,142, dated January 20, 1891.

Application tiled April 19, 1890.

To a-ZZ whom, it may concer/t.-

-e it known that l, JAMES S. HUGHES, a citizen of the United States, residing at St. Paul, in the county of Ramsey and State et' Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in lrolley-Vire Supports tor- Electric Railways; and l do declare the tollowing to be full, clear, and exact description ofthe invention, suoli as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to malte and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and iigures of reference marked thereon, which form a part ot this specification.

This invention relates to improvements in supports tor the trolley-wires ol electric railways; and it consists, generally, in an arch of tubular form resting upon suitable posts at the sides of the street, the trolley-wires being suspended or otherwise supported from the arch.

The object et the invention is to do away with certain disadvantages attendant upon the use ot the ordinary means of support, consisting el poles located upon each side ot the street, the poles being connected by means of cross-wires, from which the trolleywires are supported. It is customary te set the poles at a considerable angle to the vertical, opposite poles inclining in opposite directions, and to draw them to a vertical position by means of the connecting cross-wires for the purpose of furnishing a degree ot tension upon the cross-wires suflicient to preventsagging when vthe trolley-wires are attached. it becomes necessary in this construction to use poles ot considerable size and strength in order to withstand the strain, and the tension et the cross-wire not only causes an unsightly curvature of the poles, but the variation in the tension upon the wire, and in the capability ol the poles to withstand the same, consequent upon changes in temperature, renders the construction dangerous. At the same time the size of the poles necessitated solely by this tension adds greatly tothe cost of construction.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in whichd Figure 'i represents a general view et my improved method of supporting trolley-wires,

Serial No. 348,686. (No niorleld and Figs. and 3 are details of the joints between the several parts et the supportingarch.

Upright posts l. l are erected at each side of the street, and between opposite posts, its extremity resting thereupon, is sprung an arch 2, spanning the street. The arch is of tubular construction, et semi -elliptical or semi-circular form,or o'i' any other curvature suited to the widthof the street and the necessary height ot the trolley-wires above the ground. For the purpose et securing as great strength as possible with little weight, the arch is preferably constructed in three or more sections, the extremities 3 3 for some distance from the top of the posts being ot larger diameter than the middle portion it. For instance, the posts may be three inches in diameter, the extremities of the arches two inches, and the middle part about one and onehalf or one and three-quarters inch. This proportion may, however, be varied at will, according to the width et' the street and the curvature et the arch. From the middle section et' the arch the trolley-wires 5 5 are supported, either by hangers G t3, insulated from the arch or the wire, or both, or in any other convenient manner. It will be observed that tlie weight upon the arch is borne by the posts l l vertically, and that there is no side strain whatever, thus enabling posts ot small section to be used. For the same reason thearchmaybe constructed ot` aweight sufficient only to simply sustain the weight of the trolley-wires, and the arch form is well known to sustain the greatest load in propertion to the weight ot material. lhe leader wire T and (feeders maybe supported by the arch and connect with the trolley-wires inthe usual manner.

As a vfurther improvement and as a measure ot safety en account of possible detective insulation between the wires and the arch, the tubular sections forming the extremities of the arch are insulated from the posts by means et a form oli joint shown in Fig. 2. The pests l are preferably of tubular form, and have an inner diameter suilicient to admit the end et the end sections 3 and leave considerable space between the two. This space is filled with some non-conducting sub- IOO stance l0, preferal'ily7 sulphur, on account of its small conductivity, and also for the reason that it is peculiarly efficient in setting the joint. The end section of the arch is centered with respect to the post by means of a cap ll,of lion-conducting material, as earthenware, closely fitting the circumference of the section 3,and having a flange l2, adapted to overlap the top of the post, and by means of a plug 13 of nonconducting material inserted and retained within the post at some distance from its top, and having a central boss 14, adapted to enter the end of the section 3 when abutted against the plug. The cap ll may then be moved away from the jointand the melted mineral poured in, setting the joint, while the cap onl being restored to its place serves as a protection to the action of the weather upon the insulating material.

'lf-he connection between the middle and end sections of the arch may be formed by.

screw-threads, as shown in Fig. 3, or by means of a sleeve-nut, or in any othersuitab'le inanner, either' insulated or otherwise.

The posts l l may be made, if found desirable, of material of small conductivity, as wood, papier-mach, dsc., thereby avoiding the necessity of insulation between the same and the arch. j By means lof the construction herein set forth it is believed that notonly is a superior form of support obtained, but that grounding of the lcurrent by way of the support is ab'- solutely impossible, insuring' a greater degree of safe'tyto the public than by means of the supports hitherto employed.

1 claim as my invention- 1.I Asupp'ort for the trolley-Wires of electric railways, consisting of a tubular arch spanning the roadway, the wires being supported from the middle portion thereof by insulated connections and the extremities of said arch insulated from the ground, as and for the purpose specified.

2. A support for the trolley-wires of electric railways, consisting of a tubular arch, from the middle part of which the said wires are adapted to be supported, vthe said arch being formed in sections of gradually-increasing diameter from the middle to the ends thereof, as and for the purpose specified.

A support for the trolley-Wires of electric railways, consisting of a tubular arch, from the middle part of which the said wires are adapted to be supported, the said arch being supported upon upright posts at each side of the roadway, and a non-conducting material forming the connection between the extremities of the curved portion of the arch and said upright posts, as and for the purpose specified. l

4. A support for the trolley-wires of electric railways, consisting of a tubular arch, from the middle portion of which the said Wires are adapted to be suspended, the said arch being constructed in sections of increasing diameter from the middle to the extremities thereof., upright posts upon which the ends of the arch arev supported, and a nonconducting cap forming connection between g the extremities of said arch and said posts, substantially as and for the purpose herein specified.

In testimony whereofIaiiiX my signature in presence of two Witnesses. Y

.JAMES S. HUGHES. Witnesses:

Oruro KRUFFNER, F. W. LANE. 

